New Zealand Camping - South Island:
Tongariro National Park
(Mangahuia Campground)

New Zealand Camping - Tongariro National Park: view from the Tongariro Crossing

ADDRESS / TEL / GPS coordinates:

Mangahuia Conservation Campground

Tongariro National Park

Off State Highway 47

6km south west of National Park township

Central North Island

North Island

New Zealand

39.1818S 175.4694E

WHAT MAKES IT REAL?

LOCATION...

Camping New Zealand - Mangahuia Campground Tongariro National Park

This Department of Conservation campsite is in Tongariro National Park! A pretty awesome location.

This is the camp ground to base yourself at if you are undertaking the Tongariro Crossing (the start of which is about a 10 minute drive). It's a popular camp ground for that reason, so get here early to make sure you get a campsite.

If the Tongariro Crossing isn't enough tramping for you, there is a tramping track starting at the camp ground (the Whakapapaiti Track). The start of the trail is in the top right corner of the campervan camping section of the camp ground.

If you are happy camping in the winter (brrr!), Mangahuia Campground is really close to the Whakpapa Skifield.

Camping New Zealand - Mangahuia Campground Tongariro National Park

The tent camping zone is a lovely grass area dotted with pampas grass and small bushes next to the river. Really pretty. There is also a shelter (with counter tops and sinks) for when it rains! Turn left before you get to the campervan camping area to find the tent camping area. The tent area is walk-in, you have to park your car in the small car park just in front of it.

The campervan camping area consists of private (some shady) gravel sites in amongst trees/bushes.

New Zealand Camping - Tongariro National Park: view of the emerald lakes

Tips on doing the Tongariro Crossing:

• The track is 19.4 km. If you are reasonably fit you can do it in 5-6 hours. Check out the current track conditions with DOC before you leave. On 21 November 2012 Mount Tongariro erupted!! closing the track (a good example of why you should check the current track conditions before you visit the national park)

• Start early (we started at 7.00am in January and it was still quite busy, but later on it must have been chock-a-block).

• To lose the crowd...try to avoid stopping at the toilet about 20 minutes into the walk, unless of course you really need to go (there isn't another one for some time). This is a very popular pit stop, by pushing on you leave the crowd behind.

• Only one of you take the bus back to the car park at the end of the crossing (If there is more than one of you in your group it makes financial sense for only one of you to catch the bus back to the car park, as it is only about a 20 minute drive to the end of the walk from the beginning of the walk).

PRICE:

$6 per adult, $3 per child per child (5-17 years old), under 5’s are free

SIZE:

17 campervan campsites

17 tent campsites

OPENING TIMES:

All year

HOW TO BOOK:

First come first served

NUMBER OF NIGHTS YOU CAN STAY:

Unknown

Camping New Zealand - Mangahuia Camping Tongariro National Park

FACILITIES:

• Gravel floor campsites/pitches
• Area for pitching tent
• Vault/long-drop/compost toilets
• Sinks
• Non-drinking water
• Picnic tables/benches (in tent area)
• Shelter for cooking/food preparation/eating (in tent area)
• Restaurants/bars, visitor centre and activities in Mount Cook Village (a 5 minute drive or 30 minute walk)

Note: No drinking water. No campfires

PETS ALLOWED?

No

ROAD SURFACE:

Tarmac

ROAD SURFACE IN CAMPGROUND:

Gravel

ACTIVITIES:

• Hiking (Tongariro Crossing / Whakapapaiti Track)
• Mountain biking
• Hunting (with permit)
• Skiing

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